One in 10 skiers has been forced to change their winter holiday plans due to COVID-19 and a fifth have decided not to travel at all, according to a new survey. Almost a third of skiers have decided to take a winter sun holidays instead because of the complex and changing restrictions in ski resorts across Europe.
Austria has gone into lockdown, Switzerland announced a 10-day quarantine for all UK arrivals – which was later scrapped in favour of more testing – and all skiers heading to France need a negative COVID test to enter and those from the age of 12 must be fully vaccinated or have tested negative within the previous 24 hours to use ski lifts and to enter restaurants, cafes, bars and travel on long-distance trains.
In Italy, skiers from the age of 12 must be fully vaccinated or present a negative COVID test, taken no more than 48 hours earlier, to use ski lifts. Only fully vaccinated skiers and children under 12 are able to use covered lifts.
A recent survey by travel insurer Battleface found 20% of skiers had decided not to book an overseas trip this winter, while a further 19% were planning to change or cancel holidays they’d already booked.
However, almost a fifth said they were still planning to go skiing, but they’re waiting to book at the last minute.
Some 61% of parents with teenage children who aren’t vaccinated said the uncertainty around COVID lockdowns has put them off going abroad in the short term, while 57% said confusion around entry requirements for teenagers makes it difficult to commit to a family holiday for the next six months.
